australian order-govt buys extra 1.8m doses of rel

Govt Buys Extra 1.8M Doses Of Relenza

CANBERRA (Dow Jones)--The Australian government has ordered an extra 1.8 million doses
of the influenza antiviral Relenza in preparation of a possible pandemic, Health Minister
Tony Abbott said Friday.
Deliveries of the new order are expected to start in April and be completed within a
year, he said in a statement.
The World Health Organization predicts the world is overdue for an outbreak of a new
flu strain to which no human has immunity and has recommended countries stockpile
antivirals to cover one course for 25% of their population.
"Australia has the largest stockpiles of antivirals in the world," Abbott
said.
When the new Relenza supplies plus an additional order for Tamiflu powder announced
last weekend are delivered, Australia will have enough antivirals to cover 44% of the
population, he said.
It is hoped Relenza and Tamiflu will be effective for both prevention and treatment for
exposed people during the first stages of a flu pandemic until a vaccine is developed, he
said.
Australia's Biota Ltd. (BTA.AU), which developed Relenza and licensed it to
GlaxoSmithKline PLC (GSK) several years ago, is suing the U.K.-based drug maker for
allegedly failing to promote and support the drug after its launch.
Biota receives a 7% royalty on sales of Relenza.